Visual Language Weekend

11:30: Strandbeest Zingt (no. 40), don’t be misled by the “singing”; even without music, the self-moving Strandbeest is a fantastic visual experience! It ends around 12:30, then cycle to the woods in Hoorn to see Getting to the Root of the Plantation (no. 30) by the women of the Congolese art collective CATPC. At 16:00, we’re ready to interpret the performance Voor ze Verdwijnen (no. 6) in NGT, and sign language interpreters will distribute iPads for those who want to read along. If you don’t believe in gnomes, you might say ‘I was wrong!’ after this show. And of course, take a break afterward. Maybe grab a bite to eat? Because in the evening, we have another interpreted performance for you: LEVEN at 19:45 (no. 18). A moving story about friendship, loss, grief, and love. And then the day is done.

At 12:00, 14:00, and 16:00, you can attend the interpreted performance De Wachtkamer at West-End Theater (no. 2). It’s a personal storytelling performance by Mees van Rijswijk: What happens to you when your development is put on pause for years because of insufficient care? How can you live in the moment when you’d rather be in the future? And how can you remain yourself if you’ve never met yourself? De Wachtkamer is a performance where the waiting time for gender care is accelerated about 53,000 times. The beauty of this route is that you can stay in West village all day and enjoy the street theater. Had enough for today? Enjoy a nice quiet evening!

For the determined: at 19:15, Artificial by Nature (no. 14) will be performed and interpreted! In a post-humanist future, two robots dig up the humans of today. In this site-specific performance, they search for the essence of being human.

Looking for something special without interpretation? Be enchanted by RoZéO, three figures dancing on tall poles in the landscape. You can find them at 20:30 on the Formerum beach (no. 27). Or do you want to visit Kaleider’s Arch, where a freestanding arch made of concrete and ice is being built.?We don’t know how long the arch will stand. It starts at 21:45 on the Midsland beach (no. 24). Pssst… not feeling it tonight? They’ll be there on Saturday evening too!

What you could do is start with a lovely bike ride to the East to see Meer dan Bauxiet. Between Formerum and Hoorn at No. 33, the performance starts at 11:00, in which Emma Lesuis looks back on Suriname in the Second World War with imagery and stories, and the role of bauxite. While you’re there, take a detour to De Streken to experience what the tide does to the structure on the narrow planks. Cycle back to West and watch (yes, this is interpreted) Johannes Lievens talk about loneliness and solitude in West-End Theater (No. 2) at 12:00, 14:00, and 16:00. At 15:00, you can also enjoy Les Voyages somewhere in the center of West. Or you can choose to go to Glorious Bodies, older circus performers who still showcase their skills! They perform at 15:30 at No. 22 near Baaiduinen. No interpreter needed!

And then… fancy a 3-hour experience? Interpreted by 3 NGT interpreters and 2 captioners? Then head to Crashtest Ibsen! It starts at 19:00 at Molkenbaksplak (No. 32). In an overwhelming binge-theatre performance, you’ll follow the lives of the inhabitants of a fictional nineteenth-century Norwegian town. This performance is hard to describe, so be sure to read about it on the website. This is purely for enthusiasts 😉 And for a good reason, it’s long been an Oerol hit.

Taking it easy this morning? Then come over to Midsland early in the afternoon. Boaz Blume, Brendan Lodder, and Dewi Latupeirissa will be presenting poems, music in sign language in the village streets, interacting with the audience. Everything happens at 14:00, 14:45, and 16:45. Want to enjoy more street theatre? Dewi will be there all afternoon to interpret! Having dinner on the way or relaxing at your own spot? Totally doable. And then at 21:45, head to the interpreted performance Bergen verzetten: two high-ranking criminals are forced to take on the task of packaging drugs themselves. This work, which they often did at the beginning of their careers, evokes confronting memories of their past filled with irreversible choices in their career, love, and family life. You can find it at No. 13. But want something completely different? Something you might think: that’s impossible? Then go to ZUAM! Along with four opera singers, the deaf dancer Pawel Moleda, electronics, and video, you’ll explore the complexity of sign language and the UrSprache: a proto-language explored by the futuristic poets Antonin Artaud and Peter Brook. Exciting! It starts at 22:00 in West, No. 4. Goodnight for now!

Heading to Arch? Or ZUAM? Before the sun has even risen? You can: check the website for the times. Accessible without an interpreter! Or you can go at a slightly more reasonable time to RoZéO at 11:00 by the Formerum beach. And finally, be surprised by S10 interpreted by Dewi Latupeirissa! Accessible with a festival wristband at festival hub De Deining. Could you end Oerol any better?